Preparation and polymerization of 1,2-divinyl ethylene oxide



United States Patent 3,261,819 PREPARATION AND POLYMERIZATHQN (9F LZJEIVENYL ETHYLENE OXIDE Eugene L. Stogryn, Fords, and Anthony E. ll'assannante,

Metuchen, N..l., assignors to Esso Research and Engineering Company, a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Filed Aug. 22, 1962, Ser. No. 219,368 3 Claims. (Cl. 26088.3)

This invention relates to a method for preparing and polymerizing the unsaturated epoxide, 1,2-divinyl ethylene oxide, which has the formula:

3,261,819 Patented July 19, 1966 tained at a temperature between 0 and C. The stirred mixture was slowly brought to room temperature and stirring was continued for 24 to 48 hours. At the end, the reaction mixture was warmed to 50 C. for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was then poured into ice and extracted with ether. The ether layer was neutralized with a saturated solution of sodium bicarbonate. The ether layer was dried over anhydrous potassium carbonate, filtered, and the ether removed by distillation. In this fashion there Was obtained 269 grams of the crude chloroester, 3-chloro 4-acetoxy 1,5-hexadiene,

CH KIH -CHCl-CH(OOCCH -CH:CH

In a 1- liter 4-neck flask fitted with a stirrer, dropping funnel, distillation head, and a condenser and receiver,

The utility of this symmetrical unsaturated epoxide con- 40 there Was Placed grams of Fodlum hydroxlde Pelkts, taining two double bonds depends on the fact that it can 362 grams of POtaSS1 um hydloxlde P and grams be polymerized to polymers having a Wide range of m01eC of water, together with suffic1ent white 011 to perm1t fac1le Weights low molecular Wight and high molecular agitation ot this mixture. This flask was placedin the weight, having a high amount of unsaturation in the vinyl Sand bath and the bath heated to At this group attached to each carbon atom in the polymer 257 gram of Crude 3'Ch10m Q Y chain. The high molecular weight polymers having these dlgne was dFlPPed in slowly- The Pliessure 111 thls PP characteristics possess plastic or elastomeric properties, rams reduced q an overheafi temllerature 0f 90 depending upon the selection of the catalyst used for perto 100 Was y t fills 1938131011, there was forming polymerization collected in the d 1st1llation receiver a mixture of water The polyether f d f the symmetrical (mania and crude 1,2-d1vmyl ethylene oxide. Divinyl ethylene epoxide, 1,2-divinyl ethylene oxide, in its simplest prep- OXld? P P Was separated from the water y aration has terminal hydroxyl groups These hydroxy tract1on with diethyl ether; the ether solution was then terminated polyethers can be chain extended by reaction dried 5 2 and dlstlned at atmospherlc with reactants, such as diisocyanates, diacyl halides, diprefsurelhe fractlon bollmg at to C acids, to form higher molecular weight copolymers, such Wfighted gramsv as polyurethangs and polyesters. Moreovgr the unsat The preferred reactions for preparing the 1,2-d1v1nyl mated pglyethers having the Pendant Vinyl groups, ethylene oxide are shown in the following equations:

CHCH2 oHoi-*onoHor-r0ir on P301 are reactive in such reactions as halogenation, nitration, 2 L 2 3 oxidation, and in general in various readily performed OH OH addition reactions without destruction of the polymers 2 generally desired physical characteristics. The high molecular weight polymers of 1,2-divinyl ethylene oxide, 01 which are obtained by polymerization through the epoxy ring, possess distinct advantages over known saturated or a KOH NaOH less unsaturated polyethers in that the reactive pendant vinyl groups are suitable sites for crosslinking reactions to give three-dimensional network polymers.

The exam les set forth herein are intended to serve as an illustratio i q of the preferred and improved techniques A fjmnnatlono of final product havmg a bolhng for the preparation of 1,2-divinyl ethylene oxide monopomt of 110 to 112 undfir 771 H Pres mer, its polymers, and modifications thereof. Variations Sure gave, elemental analysls f to ,CGHBO which do not depart from the principles and scope of the the m spectra was found consistent Wlth the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Sanctum asslgned' EXAMPLE 1 Polymerization of 1,2-divinyl ethylene oxide Table I given below serves to illustrate the catalysts Pmpamtlo of lz'dlvmyl ethyl Oxzde that one can utilize for the polymerization of 1,2divinyl- To a rapidly stirred suspension of 3,4-dihydroxy 1,5- ethylene oxide to yield either low molecular weight polyhexadiene, H czCHCHOH-CHOH-CHzcl-l 228 grams, mers or high molecular weight polymers. This table only and 41.6 grams of calcium chloride was added 190 grams serves to illustrate the catalyst that can be utilized for of acetyl chloride over a period of 45 minutes. During this epoxide polymerization and is not intended to be the course of addition, the reaction mixture was mainrestrictive.

TABLE I Monomer Catalyst Time, Temperature Properties days Divinyl ethylene oxide PFa-THF 3 Ambient Pale yellow solid. Do Al(iBu)3-HZO 2 0 Yellow solid plus viscous liquid. 3 C Viscous liquid. 3 Ambient Do. y de 3 o Do. plus I (9:1 molar ratio).

TZ'lF is tetrahydroluran. 2 Triisobutyl aluminum treated with one mole of H20.

3 The polymers obtained in these experiments are unsaturated polyethers, viz. they contain a polyethylene oxide chain with a substituent vinyl group on each carbon in the polymer chain, as represented in the following formula of the recurring unit:

This structure is confirmed by the infrared spectra of the polymers. These polymers contain ap reciable hydroxyl functionality which can be utilized in the preparation of polyurethanes and acrylate derivatives useful as synthetic rubbers, textile sizes, etc.

The recurring unit will be present in the polymer a number of times, e.g. 2 upwards to about 100 or more, depending on the molecular weight, which in turn depends on the purity of the divinyl ethylene oxide monomer, the catalyst and polymerization conditions. The molecular weight of the polymers may vary in the range of about 200 to about 10,000 and higher.

As has been shown, a preferred method of preparation for obtaining the desired divinyl ethylene oxide monomer for polymerization into high molecular weight or low molecular weight polymers is obtained through the conversion of the symmetrical dihydroxy hexadiene to the chloroester, which in turn is converted by reaction with the alkali to the epoxide without adverse effects on the vinyl groups.

The polymerization of the symmetrical divinyl ethylene oxide is carried out with known types of polymerization catalysts that have been used on epoxy alkanes for making polyethers, but with the unexpected preservation of the reactive pendant vinyl groups. The following examples illustrate the conditions of the polymerization reactions which have been summarized in the preceding Table I.

EXAMPLE 2 To parts by weight of the divinyl ethylene oxide prepared as described in Example 1 is added 1 part of phosphorous pentafiuoride-tetrahydrofuran complex. The monomer and catalyst mixture is stirred and maintained at ambient or room temperature (-30 C.) for three days to form a pale yellow solid polymer having the recurring unit described.

EXAMPLE 3 EXAMPLE 5 In a mixture of the divinyl ethylene oxide monomer with water in a 9:1 molar ratio, 0.5% of PF catalyst is used for the polymerization over a period ranging up to three days at room temperature to form the desired viscous liquid polymer.

The OH functionality of these polyethers can be increased by polymerization of divinyl ethylene oxide in the presence of an OH-containing modifier, such as Water, ethylene glycol, trimethylol propane, glycerol, and pentaerythritol. For example, the water-modified polyether described in the above examples has appreciably higher OH content than the corresponding polyether which was prepared in the absence of water.

As indicated in the examples, the amounts of catalyst may be varied, e.g. from 0.1 to 10% by Weight of the unsaturated expoxide monomer and is preferably in the range of 0.5 to 2% thereof. The polymerization temperature may be varied in the range of from about 0 C. to elevated temperatures of from about to C. It is not necessary to employ solvents or diluents in the polymerization, but solvents and diluents inert or which act as modifiers may be used.

The invention described is claimed as follows:

1. As a new composition of matter, a homopolymer of 1,2-diviny1 ethylene oxide containing the recurring unit.

2.. Process for the polymerization of 1,2-divinyl ethylene oxide, which comprises polymerizing 1,2-divinyl ethyene oxide in the presence of 0.1 to 10% by weight of a polymerization catalyst chosen from the group consisting of PF PF -tetrahydrofuran complex, aluminum triisobutyl-water and NaOCH at a polymerization reaction temperature in the range of about 0 C. to about 150 C. and recovering said polymer.

3. Process for the polymerization of 1,2-divinyl ethylene oxide which comprises polymerizing 1,2divinyl ethylene oxide in the presence of 0.1 to 10% by weight of PF 5 as the catalyst for a period up to 3 days at a temperature of 20 to 30 C. to obtain a viscous liquid polymer containing the recurring unit:

and recovering the polymer.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,349,770 5/1944 Tendick 260-348 2,393,129 1/1946 Tendick 260-348 2,594,452 4/1952 Kosmin 260-676 2,756,242 7/ 1 95 6 Riener 260-348 2,860,146 11/1958 Furam et al 260-3486 2,965,652 12/1960 Gaertner 260-3486 3,012,044 12/1961 Hudson 260-348 3,018,294 1/1962 Phillips et al 260-348 3,065,213 11/1962 Vandenberg 260-883 3,168,591 11/1964 Vandenberg 260-883 OTHER REFERENCES Meltzer et al.: Chem. Abs., vol. 48 (1954) p. 3290g.

JOSEPH L. SCHOFER, Primary Examiner.

LEON D. ROSDOL, Examiner.

J. W. WHISLER, H. WONG, Assistant Examiners. 

1. AS A NEW COMPOSITION OF MATTER, A HOMOPOLYMER OF 1,2-DIVINYL ETHYLENE OXIDE CONTAINING THE RECURRING UNIT.
 2. PROCESS FOR THE POLYMERIZATION OF 1,2-DIVINYL ETHYLENE OXIDE, WHICH COMPRISES POLYMERIZING 1,2-DIVINYL ETHYENE OXIDE IN THE PRESENCE OF 0.1 TO 10% BY WEIGHT OF A POLYMERIZATION CATALYST CHOSEN FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF PF5, PF5-TETRAHYDROFURAN COMPLEX, ALUMINUM TRIISOBUTYL-WATER AND NAOCH3 AT A POLYMERIZATION REACTION TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF ABOUT 0*C. TO ABOUT 150*C. AND RECOVERING SAID POLYMER. 